ADHD Assessments for Adults and Children

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by persistent difficulties with attention, impulse control and, in some presentations, hyperactivity. It often begins in childhood and continues into adulthood, affecting functioning at school, at work and in personal relationships.

What is important to understand is that ADHD presents very differently from person to person, and many people reach adulthood without ever receiving a formal diagnosis. Vivien Suttner provides comprehensive ADHD assessments for adults and children in Newtown, Sydney's Inner West, and via telehealth for clients across NSW and throughout Australia. Referrals are accepted from GPs, paediatricians and other health professionals, and self-referrals are also welcome.

  • Difficulty Concentrating - It’s not surprising that a diagnosis of ADHD often comes during the schooling years. Oftentimes (but not always) it’s associated with difficulties within the classroom - primarily related to an ability to maintain attention for a significant period of time. An adult ADHD diagnosis often follows several years of frustration about difficulties focusing at work or university - concentration often just seems to come harder than it does for others. It’s important to note that people with ADHD are often able to focus on tasks that they’re interested in or enjoy - it’s the persistent inability to focus on more mundane tasks that can potentially indicate that ADHD may be present.

  • Procrastination - People with ADHD often have difficulty starting tasks that require concentration. To the outsider it can often look like a simple case of not prioritising what’s important (e.g homework or a work project), but for someone struggling with ADHD, it sometimes just seems impossible to start. This can be a result of a feeling of overwhelm due to anticipating the struggle of concentration to complete the task, or just as commonly it may be due to an inability to take the first step for some unknown reason. People with ADHD often become frustrated with themselves, oftentimes finding themselves unable to start a task that they genuinely see as important.

  • Difficulty Completing Tasks - Tasks requiring prolonged concentration can be overwhelming and exhausting to people with ADHD and it can be difficult for them to sustain the attention that is required to complete the task. To an observer, it could appear that the individual lacks conscientiousness, but this is very often far from the case - it just does not seem possible. For some people with ADHD, they are not consciously aware of their difficulty concentrating on the task at hand, but rather their difficulties with attention result in them being easily distracted away from the task, leaving some important tasks and projects undone.

  • Fidgeting or Hyperactivity - While childhood ADHD may in some people’s minds be associated with disruptive or problematic classroom behaviour, this is very often not the case. In fact, many people with clinically significant difficulties with attention don’t experience any physical symptoms, primarily struggling with concentration. For those who do, often it doesn’t present as disruptive behaviour, but rather persistent fidgeting and a need to move. Unfortunately, many girls and women with ADHD are not diagnosed because their presentation is not consistent with common stereotypes.

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The ADHD Assessment Process

  • We start with a one-hour session to understand your concerns, background, and what has led you to seek an assessment. This helps determine whether a full ADHD assessment is appropriate.

  • A comprehensive interview is conducted to explore current symptoms and developmental history. This may include the DIVA (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults), a structured and evidence-based assessment tool.

  • The process is tailored depending on age:

    • Adults:
      You will complete standardised self-report questionnaires. Where possible, input from a partner or family member is also gathered to provide a fuller picture.

    • Children and adolescents: Cognitive and educational assessments are completed as needed, alongside behavioural and developmental measures. For parents navigating this process, Vivien will advise on which components are most appropriate based on the presenting concerns and the child's age.

  • Additional information from family members or other relevant supports may be included to strengthen diagnostic accuracy.

  • All information is carefully integrated into a detailed report outlining:

    • Whether ADHD is present

    • A clear understanding of strengths and challenges

    • Individualised recommendations for support, treatment, and next steps

  • We meet to go through the results together. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and leave with a clear understanding of the outcome and what to do next.

Seeking an ADHD assessment can feel like a big step.

Vivien’s approach is thorough, supportive, and designed to give you clear answers and practical direction.

ADHD Assessments for Adults and Children - Vivien Suttner Clinical Psychologist - 360 Psychology

  • A comprehensive written report detailing assessment findings and diagnostic conclusions.

  • A clear explanation of results and what they mean in practical terms, not just clinical language.

  • Individualised recommendations for next steps, which may include medication pathways, therapy, workplace accommodations, school support plans or NDIS access where relevant.

  • Guidance on how to share the report with a GP, treating team, employer or school.

Following the assessment you will receive:

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ADHD Assessments for Adults and Children - Vivien Suttner Clinical Psychologist - 360 Psychology

Clinical Psychologist with Masters in Educational Psychology, Member of Australian Psychological Society, Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists

Meet Vivien Suttner

Vivien Suttner is a clinical psychologist with a Masters in Educational Psychology and over 25 years of experience in a range of psychological therapies and assessments. She conducts ADHD assessments for adults and children, with particular experience in presentations that have gone unrecognised - including adults managing without a diagnosis, children whose difficulties have been attributed to behaviour, and women whose presentations do not match common stereotypes.

Assessments are accepted by GPs, paediatricians, psychiatrists and other treating professionals, and every report gives the recipient genuine clarity and a practical way forward.

Vivien sees clients from across the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, North Shore, Parramatta, Western Sydney and greater Sydney, with telehealth available for clients across NSW.

She focuses on diagnostic accuracy, clarity and practical recommendations that are meaningful for families, schools, GPs and other professionals.

Learn More About Vivien
Vivien Suttner Clinical Psychologist Sydney - 360 Psychology

“Sometimes it’s just as important for people to know what ADHD isn’t. It isn’t bad behaviour or ‘naughtiness’. It isn’t ‘not caring' or ‘being lazy’. It’s not low intelligence. Purely and simply, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder - it’s not a choice. People with ADHD can absolutely thrive, with the right treatment - but it’s difficult to adapt if you don’t know what’s going on.”

Vivien Suttner, Principal Psychologist

Send an enquiry or book a ADHD Assessment

To discuss whether a psychological assessment is appropriate, book an assessment or to make a referral, please complete this form and Vivien will be in touch.